EXTREME ALTERCATION

Last night we had the Jim IV family over for dinner, partly so we could visit with them, but also so they could visit with Jesse. I had fed the dogs and had given both of them a dog biscuit which is my usual routine for them. We were all settled in at the dining room table pleasantly eating our meal when a huge ruckus arose under the table. Then both dogs burst out and ran into the living room growling at each other. Not friendly growls either.

Some of the adults jumped up and grabbed each one. Obviously, something really traumatic had occurred between the two. We finally figured it out. Jesse had finished her biscuit and as usual, Rufus had just played with his and had some left, actually the whole thing left. Jesse had tried to take it from him and he reacted by growling. That is all a usual procedure they have performed many times. But, for some reason, (perhaps she was emboldened by her family being here), Jesse took it a step further and got serious about it, thus the growling chase of Rufus around the room.

The aftermath was interesting to watch. Rufus wanted nothing to do with her and just wanted to be held by his mommy. He wasn’t trembling, but he definitely wanted me to hold him in my lap for a while. Jesse sensed the coolness and stayed away from him. This self-imposed isolation from each other went on until bedtime, long after the other family had left. Then while Rufus was sleeping in their joint bed, Jesse slowly approached him and began sniffing him. Rufus awoke and just turned over on his back with his paws in the air, as if to say, “OK, I forgive you.”

From then on, things have been great. Last night they slept back to back with their feet touching me. That’s actually the closest they’ve ever slept, so I guess the fight brought them closer together.

How human can you get?